SOMETIMES

GENERALLY

AWLAYS

RARELY

(Circle your answer to each of these questions)

A A A A A A A A

B B B B B B B B

C C C C C C C C

D D D D D D D D

Time Management 1. Do you make a Master Schedule for each semester? 2. Do you update it weekly/daily? 3. Do you stick to it? 4. Do you allow time for exercise and socializing with friends? 5. Do you get at least 6 hours of sleep each night? 6. Do you study at least 2 hours for every hour in class? 7. Do you get your assignments done on time? 8. Do you regularly attend your classes? NUMBER OF As and Bs circled _____ Your Study Environment 1. Do you regularly study at the same time? 2. Do you have an area where you always go to study? 3. Is your study area free of noise and distractions? 4. Do you have all your supplies near you when you study? 5. Is your area comfortable? 6. Can you study for at least a half hour without getting up, walking about, taking snack or TV or phone breaks? 7. Do your friends leave you alone when they know you want to study? 8. Do you use your time between classes to study? NUMBER OF As and Bs circled _____ Test Taking/Preparation Skills 1. Do you study for each class every day? 2. Do you start reviewing for major exams at least 3 days in advance? 3. Do you belong to a study group? 4. Do you attend extra help sessions or office hours provided by the instructor? 5. Do you know what kind of tests you will take, i.e., essay, multiple choice, and how to prepare for different types of tests? 6. Can you predict what types of questions will be on the test? 7. Are you able to finish your tests in the allowed period of time? 8. If you do not do well on a test, do you review it with the instructor and/or analyze it to see where you had problems? NUMBER OF As and Bs circled _____ Note Taking Skills 1. Are you able to take notes in class, keep up with the instructor, and understand the concepts at the same time? 2. Do you have an efficient system of note taking? 3. Do you review your notes after each class, preferably right after class? 4. Do you know what is the important stuff to write down and what are the cues that this is important stuff? 5. In addition to highlighting, do you make notes as you read class materials? 6. Can you put class notes or notes from texts into your own words? NUMBER OF As and Bs circled _____

A A A A A A A A

B B B B B B B B

C C C C C C C C

D D D D D D D D

A A A A A A A A

B B B B B B B B

C C C C C C C C

D D D D D D D D

A A A A A A

B B B B B B

C C C C C C

D D D D D D

A A A A A A

B B B B B B

C C C C C C

D D D D D D

Reading Skills 1. Can you read and learn at the rate of 12-15 pages per hour for history-type material? 2. Do you keep up with the readings for all your classes and have the material read before the lecture? 3. Can you concentrate and understand the material you read without re-reading a second or third time? 4. When reading a text, do you read the headings and chapter outlines first? 5. Do you adjust your reading styles when you are reading for literature, social science, or science classes? 6. Do you do your study-reading during the time of day when you are most alert? NUMBER OF As and Bs circled _____ Writing Skills 1. Are you comfortable with your command of English grammar, punctuation, and spelling? 2. Do you have a clear idea of what the instructor requires for a writing assignment? 3. Do you make an outline of your paper, starting with the thesis statement and outlining how the subsequent paragraphs will support your thesis? 4. If you are assigned a research paper, do you know how to use the library or Internet to research your topic? 5. Do you start your research in time to complete it and write your paper without pulling an all-nighter just before the paper is due? 6. Are you able to communicate effectively in writing? NUMBER OF As and Bs circled _____ Math Skills 1. Do you have a good command of the prerequisite skills for the math class in which you are enrolled? 2. Do you always do your homework assignments and work the problems before looking at the solutions? 3. Do you participate in class and ask questions when you dont understand a concept? 4. Do you at most miss only two math classes per semester? 5. Can you explain to another student how to solve all the problems on a math test? 6. Do you have enough time after taking your tests to review for calculation errors and stupid mistakes like misplaced + or signs?

A A A A A A

B B B B B B

C C C C C C

D D D D D D

A A A A A A

B B B B B B

C C C C C C

D D D D D D

STUDY HABITS RESULTS

Adapted from: Virginia Gordons University Survey: A Guidebook and Readings for New Students

Time Management, Your Study Environment, and Test Taking/Preparation Skills 6-8 3-5 0-2 Great OK, but improvement needed Need help here

Note-Taking, Reading, Writing, and Math Skills 5-6 3-4 0-2 Great OK, but improvement needed Need help here